02 Passat headlamps: Which bulbs are lit when?
 

Silly question, but I guess I've never stood in front of my car and looked
at it when the lights are on 'til now.

I guess there are three states (not counting the fog lamps):

1. DRL
2. Normal headlights on
3. High beams on

It appears that from the front at least, states 1&2 are the same, with the
outer pair of lamps lit, while state 3 also brings up the inner pair.

Right?

I expected the DRL mode to be reduced intensity, but that doesn't seem to
be the case.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN

"Bert Hyman" > wrote in message
om...
> Silly question, but I guess I've never stood in front of my car and looked
> at it when the lights are on 'til now.
>
> I guess there are three states (not counting the fog lamps):
>
> 1. DRL
> 2. Normal headlights on
> 3. High beams on
>
> It appears that from the front at least, states 1&2 are the same, with the
> outer pair of lamps lit, while state 3 also brings up the inner pair.
>
> Right?
>
> I expected the DRL mode to be reduced intensity, but that doesn't seem to
> be the case.
>
> --
> Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN

All correct.

The DRLs might be slightly reduced but barely perceptible. I know on my
Eurovan they're almost no dimmer to the naked eye but if I put a voltmeter
to the wiring the DRLs are slightly less voltage than my low beams. But
yeah...they're not really any dimmer from a "does it matter" standpoint.

Bert Hyman wrote:
> Silly question, but I guess I've never stood in front of my car and
> looked at it when the lights are on 'til now.
>
> I guess there are three states (not counting the fog lamps):
>
> 1. DRL
> 2. Normal headlights on
> 3. High beams on
>
> It appears that from the front at least, states 1&2 are the same,
> with the outer pair of lamps lit, while state 3 also brings up the
> inner pair.
>
> Right?
>
> I expected the DRL mode to be reduced intensity, but that doesn't
> seem to be the case.

As I recall the DRL's are the high beams on at 70%. A 30% reduction in
power translates to something like a 40% reduction in brightness and unless
you are looking very carefully most people will not detect the difference,
but the life of the lamp is extended. In addition the light spread is wider
and higher to provide better warning to on coming drivers and more light to
someone standing in front of the car.


--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Bert Hyman wrote:
> Silly question, but I guess I've never stood in front of my car and
> looked at it when the lights are on 'til now.
>
> I guess there are three states (not counting the fog lamps):
>
> 1. DRL
> 2. Normal headlights on
> 3. High beams on
>
> It appears that from the front at least, states 1&2 are the same,
> with the outer pair of lamps lit, while state 3 also brings up the
> inner pair.
>
> Right?
>
> I expected the DRL mode to be reduced intensity, but that doesn't
> seem to be the case.

BTW I have replaced my original switch with a European version. I have:

1. DRL
2. Parking Lights
3. Normal headlights on
4. High beams on

With the option to turn on the fog lamps at any setting. Which means in
heavy fog or snow, I can use position #2 with fog lamps for the best
possible vision. The higher mounted head lights on normal or high beam
bounce back too much to be useful in fog or snow.


--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Unless the laws have been changed recently, high beams plus fogs is illegal
almost everywhere in the US. If you are in the US.


"Joseph Meehan" > wrote in message
...
> Bert Hyman wrote:
> > Silly question, but I guess I've never stood in front of my car and
> > looked at it when the lights are on 'til now.
> >
> > I guess there are three states (not counting the fog lamps):
> >
> > 1. DRL
> > 2. Normal headlights on
> > 3. High beams on
> >
> > It appears that from the front at least, states 1&2 are the same,
> > with the outer pair of lamps lit, while state 3 also brings up the
> > inner pair.
> >
> > Right?
> >
> > I expected the DRL mode to be reduced intensity, but that doesn't
> > seem to be the case.
>
> BTW I have replaced my original switch with a European version. I
have:
>
> 1. DRL
> 2. Parking Lights
> 3. Normal headlights on
> 4. High beams on
>
> With the option to turn on the fog lamps at any setting. Which means
in
> heavy fog or snow, I can use position #2 with fog lamps for the best
> possible vision. The higher mounted head lights on normal or high beam
> bounce back too much to be useful in fog or snow.
>
>
> --
> Joseph Meehan
>
> 26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math
>
>

"Joseph Meehan" > wrote in message
...
> Rob Guenther wrote:
>> You mean low beams at 70% right?
>
> It may be, I am working from memory and I have never checked. I also
> may be different on different cars.

It should be lows. Haven't seen a VW yet that used the highs for DRLs. All
the ones I've seen use the lows.

Matt B. wrote:

> "Joseph Meehan" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Rob Guenther wrote:
>>
>>>You mean low beams at 70% right?
>>
>> It may be, I am working from memory and I have never checked. I also
>>may be different on different cars.
>
>
> It should be lows. Haven't seen a VW yet that used the highs for DRLs. All
> the ones I've seen use the lows.

It should be easy enough to tell (if you don't have someone handy to
look at the bulbs which you switch modes) by pulling up in front of a
wall and going through the settings. On my '03 Passat, the DRLs are the
low-beams, running at (slightly) reduced power. The difference in
brightness is minor but noticeable.

--
Mike Smith